Like many of you, I am an avid sports fan. Specifically, I am an irrational Eagles fan. Always have been. I receive a lot of flak from my wife each year when I believe that “this is the year that they are going all the way.” I’ve been saying that for decades. And sometimes I am right.
Anyway, this note will probably apply to you and your devotion to your favorite team.
I am frustrated by the talking heads on the radio sports talk shows. Particularly when they are previewing the upcoming season and rating the players. In this case, the talk is about the Eagles Defense. The comparison is always about how the incoming group of players compares to the team that took the Eagles to the Super Bowl win (YES!, GO BIRDS!) last year.
The commentators compare the incoming players to those lost to free agency during the offseason. What a senseless comparison. The correct appraisal should be how the current incoming team compares to the incoming team 12 months ago.
For the Eagles, think about all of the questions last year at this time:
How can a journeyman edge rusher (Zach Baum) adjust to playing linebacker?
How will they replace the loss of Hassan Reddick?
Can Nolan Smith begin to show his promise?
Can a spot player like Milton Williams make the move to become a regular player?
Who will take over for the loss of Fletcher Cox?
Can the two rookies, Cooper DeJean and Quinton Mitchell step up and play corner?
Is Brandom Graham too old?
How can a new Defensive Coordinator like Vic Fangio put in a new system?
When you try to compare the incoming team to the final, mature, successful team at the end of the season, you are making an unfair comparison. The fair comparison is how do the questions this year compare to the questions going into the season last year.
As Teddy Roosevelt said: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”